Our Life Purpose
By Sarah Donaher, a houseparent Before I met my husband Terry, I had never heard of Milton Hershey School. I knew of Hershey’s chocolate, but because I didn’t grow up...
My MHS BlogCategory: Houseparents and Home Life
Family First
By Terry Donaher, an MHS houseparent When I came to Milton Hershey School as a seventh-grader in 1992, I remember being dropped off by my mother and stepfather and receiving...
Hoping for Spring
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent A few months ago, I ran past a friend’s house and I saw these awesome flowers in her yard that looked like giant pom-poms...
The View From the Top
By Clare Ogle, an MHS Houseparent At the beginning of the school year, we decided to take our student home on a hike. We wanted to do something outside that...
Maybe the Balance is Found in the Dance
By Clare Ogle, an MHS Houseparent “Mom guilt” is everywhere. Social media, magazines, you name it—it’s out there. Am I doing enough for my children and our students? Am I...
Playing Games
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent The schedule at Milton Hershey School is rewarding but rigorous—especially in Senior Division. There are chores to be done, rooms to keep clean, study...
ABC, Easy as 123
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent Trying to get my kindergartener to do his homework usually goes one of two ways: he’s either thrilled and can’t wait to do it,...
Whatever You Do, Do It Well
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent I’m not convinced that Milton Hershey loved chocolate more than anything else. Why? Hear me out. I think Milton Hershey enjoyed chocolate, but I...
Don’t Let the Feeling Fade
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent In addition to my houseparenting duties, I have the privilege of helping with New Spartan Academy. This is the program that all new students...
The Long Game
By Clare Ogle, an MHS houseparent When it comes to houseparenting, I like to tell people that we’re playing the long game. When we’re dealing with people, especially teens, we...